D.A.: Man tried to blow up group home, sexually abused housemate

A 23-year-old man repeatedly sexually abused and beat up a female housemate and later tried blowing up the West Nyack house with the woman and 12 other people inside, according to a 23-count indictment.

Ethan Jimenez-Colon's reported rampage on May 28 and 29 is outlined in the indictment that includes charges of attempted rape, multiple sexual abuse counts and 13 counts of attempted murder.

Colon lived at the residential-care Lukens House at 78 Demarest Ave. with 10 other residents and three staff members.

The group home caters to adults with developmental disabilities.

Colon entered a female resident's room through a bedroom window on May 28 between midnight and 5 a.m. and sexually abused her, Rockland District Attorney Thomas Zugibe said Wednesday.

He was accused of returning to the woman's room the next day at 4:45 a.m. though the unlocked door, and choking and sexually assaulting her, Zugibe said.

Colon "is accused of brutal physical and sexual assaults on a woman whom he unlawfully held hostage on more than one occasion," Zugibe said. "The fact that the alleged attacks took place in her own room must have added to the victim's nightmare."

After sexually abusing the woman on May 29, Colon went to the kitchen and turned on all four stove gas burners, releasing natural gas, Zugibe said.

He then ignited the oven in an attempt to cause an explosion and fire, Zugibe said.

"The defendant's efforts to target other residents and staff endangered those within the group home as well as the first responders called to the scene," Zugibe said.

Jimenez-Colon faces a maximum of 25 years in state prison.

He is being held without bail pending arraignment in Clarkstown Town Court.

Indictment:

-- Thirteen counts of second-degree attempted murder.

-- One count of first-degree attempted arson.

-- One count of first-degree criminal sexual act.

-- Two counts of first-degree attempted rape.

-- Two counts of second-degree burglary.

-- Three counts of first-degree sexual abuse.

-- One count of criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation.